Silverware washer construction



1966 R. ETTLINGER SILVERWARE WASHER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1964 EJ UEEEEE BUD .m-ounun lNl/ENTOR i Rmph Ei'flmqer M Q Q??? ,4 T TOIENE'KS United States Patent ()fifice 3,294,273. Patented Dec. 27, 1966 13,34,273 SHLVERWARE WASHER CONSTRUCTION Ralph Ettlinger, 1370 Lincoln Ave. S., Highland Park, Ill. 60035 Filed Nov. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 414,528 Claims. (Cl. 220-2333) This invention relates to an apparatus for use in washing silverware. In particular, the application is concerned with a silverware washer construction which is adapted to be employed in dishwashing machines.

The use of dishwashing machines is becoming more and more popular, particularly in restaurants and in other facilities handling large numbers of dishes. Generally speaking, such machines operate by providing conveyors which transport dishes through the machines. Spray heads provide the necessary washing water and detergents are dispensed in the machine so that the dishes can all be washed without any handling by individuals. In the preferred construction of the machines, racks are provided for holding dishes and, in many cases, such racks can be removed from the machine and employed for stacking and carrying of the dishes after completion of the washing operation.

The instant invention is particularly concerned with the provision of improved rack means for carrying silverware through a dishwashing machine. In particular, the invention is concerned with an improved design for holders for the silverware whereby the knives, forks and spoons can be washed in an extremely efiicient and effective manner.

The instant invention is intended as an improvement over prior constructions which suffer from certain defects. In one form of such prior constructions, the silverware was placed on a fiat rack and thus transported in a horizontal position through the washing machine. In such instances, there is a substantial tendency for some pieces of the silverware to rest on top of lower pieces whereby the lower pieces are masked out and thus not exposed to the washing fluids.

In some instances, cylinders are employed for holding the silverware with the silverware standing upright in the cylinders. These provide a more effective cleaning operation; however, in many instances the silverware is removed from the cylinders by grasping the silverware with the hand, thus, providing unsanitary conditions. In other upright type holders for the silverware, removal was ac complished by dumping the silverware; however, this was objectionable from the standpoint of wear and tear.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved construction for the handling of silverware in a dishwashing machine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a silverware holder of the type described which can be economically manufactured.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a silverware holder construction which carries the silverware in an upright position and which permits removal of the silverware in a sanitary fashion and without wear and tear, and which provides for spacing of the silverware to promote maximum washing efficiency.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the silverware rack means and associated holders;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the rack means shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged end elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the pivotal mounting of the holders;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, partly in section, illustrating the details of the holder portion of the inventive structure;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the holder of FIGURE 4; and,

FIGURE 6 is a reduced bottom view of the holder taken about the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

As previously indicated, the construction of this invention is adapted to be associated with a dishwashing apparatus. The construction combines a rack portion which includes frame members defining an open framework. Holders are associated with the framework, and the silverware is adapted to be carried by the holders during the operation of the dishwashing apparatus. In the usual case, conveyor means are provided in the apparatus for transporting the racks through the various stages of the operation. It will be understood that the racks may be directly provided with elements which engage the conveyor mechanisms. On the other hand, means such as flat bed members in the conveyor may be provided for carrying the racks.

Each of the holders carried by the racks is provided with elements for attaching the holders to the racks. These elements provide a pivotal connection with the rack whereby the silverware can be discharged from the holders by pivoting the holders with respect to the racks. It will also be apparent that the holders are designed whereby the silverware can be carried in a manner permitting the most efficient washing operation. Specifically, the holders provide for carrying the silverware with the business end up. The end sof the silverware are flared outwardly at the top of the holders for maximum contact with the water and washing detergents.

The accompanying drawings provide an illustration of the rack and holder members which make up the construction of this invention. The rack member 10 shown in FIGURE 1 includes vertical frame members 12 which are disposed at an intermediate point in the rack. The members 12 are connected to bottom frame members 14 and these frame members include integrally formed U- shaped end portion 16. Horizontal struts 18 extend between the horizontal portions 20 of the U-shaped ends 16. These struts 18 define a plurality of openings for receiving holders 22.

The rack 10 also includes a handle member 24 which is provided with downwardly extending legs 26. These legs pass through cylindrical sleeves 28 which are fixed to the upper horizontal frame member 30. It will be apparent that the legs 26 are slideable in the sleeves 28' so that the handle 24 can be raised and lowered. Enlarged ends 32 are provided on the legs 26 to limit the upward movement of the handle 24. An additional frame member 36 is attached to the frame members 12 to provide a horizontal support for the rims 28 of the holders 22. One side of each of the holders 22 is provided with an attaching means for attachment to the horizontal member 20 of the U-shaped ends 16. These attachment means comprise ribs 40 integrally formed on the holders 22. The ribs define keyhole-shaped openings 42 which can be pressed onto the frame member 20. The holders are preferably formed of a heat resistant plastic material so that sufiicient resiliency is provided for achieving attachment of the holders to the member 20.

The construction of the holders is best illustrated in FIGURES 4 through 6. Each of these holders is generally rectangular in cross section so that maximum utilization of space in the openings defined by the struts 18 can be provided. As indicated, the holders are preferably formed of molded plastic and in the molding operation, a plurality of vertical slots 46 are formed in the holders. In addition, a plurality of openings 48 are formed in the bottom of the holder so that water and detergent will readily flow into and out of the holders. Reinforcing cross members 50 can also be provided as an integrally molded member.

Finally, legs 52 are formed on the holders so that they can be positioned in an upright fashion in the event that they are removed from the rack 10.

Each of the holders defines an internal concave bottom surface 54. When silverware is introduced into the holders with the handle ends 56 down, there is a tendency for the silverware to seek the center of the holder. Accordingly, the business end of the silverware will flare outwardly providing maximum exposure.

In the use of the construction described, a plurality of holders 22 are first positioned on a rack 10. Thereafter, the silverware is inserted in the manner described after which the rack is placed in position in the dishwashing apparatus. It will be noted that the handle 24 is extremely convenient in this connection since the handle, when grasped, will move upwardly to provide for carrying free of any possible contact with the silverware. However, when the handle is released, it will drop down so that the rack will not require undue space in the machine.

After completion of the washing operation, the silverware can be removed by simply tilting each holder as suggested by FIGURE 3. Clearance is provided for tilting beyond the frame member 36 so that a tray or other means for carrying the silverware can be placed immediately adjacent the end of a holder 22 for receiving the silverware. The silverware can then slide into the tray without difficulty and without any need for touching of the silverware by the operator. Since the silverware does not drop a significant distance, Wear and tear is virtually eliminated. In addition, this arrangement eliminates to a substantial extent the noise which often accompanies the handling of silverware.

The described construction has further advantages since the silverware holders are held in spaced apart relationship in the frame. This promotes more effective movement of water and better washing. Uniformity in washing effectiveness is also achieved and this presents distinct advantages over prior art structures wherein the silverware is randomly distributed on a bed or held in holders which are randomly distributed.

It will also be appreciated that the rack construction could be used for holding the silverware after removal from the dishwashing machine. In this connection, the slideable handle is a distinct advantage since the construction can be carried without the danger of contact with the silverware.

It will be appreciated that the elements which make up the construction of this invention are relatively simple in construction and can therefore be produced without undue expense. Furthermore, the construction described is versatile and its use does not require complicated systems. Accordingly, substantial efficiency can be achieved through the use of the described arrangement.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction described which provide the characteristics without departing from the spirit thereof, particularly as defined in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a dishwashing apparatus, the improvement comprising a silverware rack including frame members desaid pivotal movement is facilitated, and including side bars formed in said rack, said attachment means comprising resilient fingers integrally formed with said holders to removably secure said holders in place, said fingers providing the pivotal attachment of said holders, and wherein said holders define concave interior bottom walls whereby the bottom ends of silverware standing in said holders will tend to assume positions toward the center of said holders while the upper ends will flare outwardly to provide greater contact of washing fluids with said upper ends.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including handle means attached to said frame, said handle means being slideably mounted with respect to said frame members whereby the handle means are extended during gripping of said rack and whereby said handle means can be moved to a retractable position to provide a compact construction during operation of said apparatus.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said handle means comprise a generally U-shaped memher having a transverse bar defining a gripping portion, and legs extending from said bar, sleeve means carried by said frame, said legs extending downwardly into said sleeve means and being slideably movable therein, and means attached to said legs for limiting the movement of said handle means between extended and retracted positions.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said rack includes a transversely disposed frame member located at the center of the rack in spaced-apart relationship with respect to the bottom of the rack, said holders including a bead portion extending around their upper rims, said bead portions being adapted to rest on said transversely disposed frame member whereby said holders are supported on one side by said transversely disposed frame member and on the opposite side by said side bars.

5. In a dishwashing apparatus, the improvement comprising a silverware rack including frame members defining an open framework, holder means associated with said framework adapted to carry said silverware during operation of said apparatus, each of said holder means including means for attachment to said frame members, said attachment means comprising resilient fingers formed integrally in the side wall of said holders, said fingers being adapted to be spread apart whereby the holders can be releasibly secured to a frame member of said rack, said holders defining concave inner bottom walls whereby the bottom ends of said silverware standing in said holder means will tend to move toward the center of said holders while the upper ends will flare outwardly to improve contact of washing fluids with upper ends, and including vertical openings defined by the side walls of said holders to permit free passage of water through the side walls, and a plurality of bores formed in the bottom wall of said holders to permit free passage of water through the bottom wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,270,631 6/1918 Lewis 220-19 1,691,858 11/1928 Ryerson 220-19 2,603,377 7/1952 Mayers et a1. 220-21 2,615,605 10/ 1952 Wahlbom 220-104 2,679,067 5/ 1954 Delmas 220-17 2,911,133 11/1959 Ruggieri 220-19 2,981,417 4/1961 Cross 211-78 3,050,073 8/ 1962 McMillan 220-19 3,115,281 12/1963 Somme 220-70 3,193,339 7/1965 Cooper 211-81 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Examiner. 

1. IN A DISHWASHING APPARATUS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A SILVERWARE RACK INCLUDING FRAME MEMBERS DEFINING AN OPEN FRAMEWORK, HOLDERS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FRAMEWORK ADAPTED TO CARRY SAID SILVERWARE DURING OPERATION OF SAID APPARATUS, EACH OF SAID HOLDERS INCLUDING MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO SAID FRAME MEMBERS, AND WHEREIN SAID HOLDERS ARE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME MEMBERS TO FACILITATE DISCHARGEOF SAID SILVERWARE THEREFROM, MEANS FORMED IN SAID RACK ADAPTED TO NORMALLY ENGAGE SAID HOLDERS WHEREBY SAID HOLDERS ARE NORMALLY TILTED TOWARD THE SIDE OF SAID APPARATUS WHEREBY SAID PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IS FACILITATED, AND INCLUDING SIDE BARS FORMED IN SAID RACK, SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS COMPRISING RESILIENT FINGERS INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID HOLDERS TO REMOVABLY SECURED SAID HOLDERS IN PLACE, SAID FINGERS PROVIDING THE PIVOTAL ATTACHMENT OF SAID HOLDERS, AND WHEREIN SAID HOLDERS DEFINE CONCAVE INTERIOR BOTTOM WALLS WHEREBY THE BOTTOM ENDS OF SILVERWARE STANDING IN SAID HOLDERS WILL TEND TO ASSUME POSITIONS TOWARD THE CENTER OF SAID HOLDERS WHILE THE UPPER ENDS WILL FLARE OUTWRADLY TO PROVIDE GREATER CONTACT OF WASHING FLUIDS WITH SAID UPPER ENDS. 